"David."
"David what?"
"Just David."
"But your father's name?" Mrs. Holly had almost asked, but stopped in time. She did not want to speak of him. "Where do you live?" she asked instead.
"On the mountain, 'way up, up on the mountain where I can see my Silver Lake every day, you know."
"But you didn't live there alone?"
"Oh, no; with father—before he—went away" faltered the boy.
The woman flushed red and bit her lip.
"No, no, I mean—were there no other houses but yours?" she stammered.
"No, ma'am."